Kickstarting My Heart's Desires

Whoever came up with the idea of a website where people can help fund new records, films or products must be feeling pretty good right about now.

Kickstarter has been getting more press than usual since Kristen Bell and Rob Thomas used it to raise cash for a Veronica Mars movie..and it worked a lot better than they expected.

They had hoped to raise two million, and they're at three point four million as of  5 PM Pacific on March 15th. This is even before they get foreign fans in this. Canadian fans are contributing now. This is all because the CW thought watching rich teens with adult problems is more cool than a Noir Nancy Drew whose thinks she ruined her ex-sheriff dad's life in the final episode, and never got the chance to redeem herself. This movie is supposed to give her that chance, and apparently a lot of people want to see that.

When you think about it, the big studios a lot of movies that go directly to DVD, Netflix or whatever. That's why someone was allowed to do a prequel of The Dukes of Hazard before they became the hell-raising family that CBS gladly aired. Why not make a movie that provides a proper ending to beloved TV shows? Dead Like Me managed to do that, but the result wasn't as good as people hoped. The fact that Mandy Patinkin wasn't in it may be one reason. Farscape, on the other hand, did get its final act thanks to fan support. It didn't need Kickstarter.

The success of the Veronica Mars project only suggests the CW should have given her the chance to make it up to her dad, and solve one last crime that stains her home town of Neptune. She may be "exiled" by the elite in Neptune after saving the day, but as long as she has a future in law enforcement...and that some "elite"  may eventually come to her and desperately ask for her help with another town scandal...it would be worth it. Hopefully, that will be coming soon. The demand is there.

However, I don't think it will lead to the revival of a lot of shows. There's a long list of shows people want to see again, and some viewers figure Kickstarter will make it happen. Joss Whedon's shows, sadly, can't be included. First off, he's busy with Avengers 2 and being Mr. Marvel Movies. Also, special effects cost a lot. That's why we'll also have to leave out Pushing Daisies (darn it), although Bryan Fuller has said in Twitter that he'll give it a try. If he can get around the bill for special effects, I'd chip in.  Zachary Levi is suggesting bringing back Chuck, so that we'll know Sarah got her memory back for certain. That's plausible, and wouldn't take too much special effects. Shawn Ryan, famous for The Shield, hopes he can revive Terriers, about a couple of private eyes. Imagine adding Veronica in the mix as a "prequel" to her movie.

However, how about Wonderfalls, so that we get that second season where Jaye is mistaken as a shaman and winds up in the looney bin because wax lions and stuffed animals give her cryptic clues about something or other? I'd also like to see more of The Middleman, because goofy superheroes beats teen serials on ABC Family. Come to think of it, whatever happened to the Gilmore Girls? ABC Family should consider answering that question, and an episode of Bunheads doesn't count. Otherwise, it's Kickstarter time. A few people even asked Lauren Graham about that on Twitter.

If not that, I am still hoping this will happen:

Want a reason? Just look at Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 2 | RiffTrax. That's enough of a reason.

 

It had hoped to bribe Lionsgate with 55 thousand dollars from the people, figuring that's enough to get the rights to Twilight, so that it can finally get the proper respect. It's up to 225 thousand, because the need to sucker-punch this embarrassing teen vampire romance is much stronger that the need to see the comeback of a teen detective. Both are long overdue, but still....

 

If Mike Nelson and his pals do succeed, the Transformers and GI Joe won't be too far behind.

 

It's all thanks to the internet, and the creation of Kickstarter, which is also good for producing independent comics, CDs, projects and even inventions.

 

I'm still waiting for Lust for Life and Eliza Dushku's documentary on Albania, but I'm sure both are coming. I did get Eliza's autographed recipe in exchange for my support. That keeps my faith, and that's why I'll see movie revenge and a big comeback soon enough.  

 



Wondercon report on my website

I have just submitted five stories to Whedonopolis, including a one-on-one talk with Ed Brubaker, and press conferences with Adam Baldwin, Summer Glau, Josh Freidman and Shirley Manson. Those stories, and pictures, are on my website. It's still under construction. I still have to add two more stories, but that should be done by Wednesday

This year's edition was much better for one reason: they used the Esplanade ballroom again as its Hall H. Putting the big events in the basement was a terrible idea, and using the Esplanade should be a given every year. I still say that one day, they will have to use the entire convention area for the event. It will get that big.

My only disappointment, as I had said before, was the guys at Watchmen who didn't want press to see the midnight screening. Hey, I just wanted to see how it would look. I still haven't read the whole thing. In any case, I will wait patiently for Dr. Manhattan, Silk Spectre, the Comedian and the rest to play on my local Imax theater. Thing is, I had heard it may not happen until the summer. Well, there's still the Imax at the CityWalk. Maybe I can go there.

That is in my future because I got tickets to the two events I wanted to see at the Paley Festival in April. I got tickets to Dollhouse, which I hope will still happen, on April 15th, and the Pushing Daisies screening on the 19th. So far,none of the panels have sold out except Swingtown, which closes the festival. However, the Pushing Daisies screening was sold out only because it's only slightly more expensive that going to the El Capitan and see 3-D Jonas Brothers. Or maybe, just maybe, people would be willing to pay 15 bucks to see something they are afraid will never air on TV. Bryan Fuller will be there to introduce the episodes, but maybe we can hope some cast members may drop by, then have a piece of pie to remember it by. Of course, this is bound to change very quickly, but at least I was this lucky.

Anyway, the website should have all the stories that I am blogging elsewhere. I am happy to get the Wondercon section updated after two years.